University of New South Wales
Master of Sustainment Management
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
- Course Type: Master's
Build strategic, logistics, procurement and asset management capabilities to support the long-term performance of complex military technology systems through an interdisciplinary program tailored to the Defence sector.
Course overview
Defence professionals and others working with complex military technology systems can deepen their specialist expertise through UNSW Canberra’s Master of Sustainment Management. The course examines how sustainment strategy, operational requirements and execution contribute to long-term system performance and reliability.
Across the program, students develop capabilities in strategic and change management, logistics, procurement, outsourcing and asset management. These areas are brought together to support informed decisions across the acquisition, operation and sustainment of complex systems.
Drawing on expertise from the UNSW Canberra School of Business and School of Engineering and Information Technology, the degree combines five compulsory courses with three prescribed electives. Students can explore areas including risk, strategic logistics, systems engineering, space operations, test and evaluation and Defence technology.
Offered fully online and designed for completion in one year of full-time study, the course may support career directions across acquisition, asset management, Defence logistics, integrated logistics support, procurement, maintenance, supply chain and sustainment management.
Key facts
24th May, 2027
What you will study
To earn the Master of Sustainment Management, you must successfully complete units totalling 48 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 6 credit points.
- Strategic Management
- Change Management
- Logistics Management
- Strategic Procurement and Outsourcing
- Asset Management
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To gain entry into the Master of Sustainment Management, an applicant must meet one of the following entry requirements:
- Completion of a bachelor's degree with honours in the same or a related discipline* from a recognised institution.
- Completion of a graduate diploma or graduate certificate in the same or a related discipline from a recognised institution.
- Completion of a bachelor's degree in the same or a related discipline from a recognised institution; and completion of at least three years of relevant full-time professional experience.
- Completion of a bachelor's degree in a non-related discipline; and completion of at least four years of relevant full-time professional experience.
- Evidence of other qualifications and professional experience to be assessed as acceptable grounds for admission into the program by the relevant program authority. In certain circumstances, students may be required to undertake and successfully complete a relevant non-award course as a condition for admission into the program. This non-award course may also be credited towards the program upon admission.
*Related disciplines: Project management, logistics or business.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses.
- Prior study in the medium of English.
- Other qualifications.
Contact the university or visit their website for more information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- An understanding of enquiry-based learning and demonstrate analytical skills as they relate to sustainment.
- Communicate effectively to a range of audiences in both written and oral forms and be capable of independent and collaborative enquiry and working effectively with others.
- Advanced critical thinking and problem solving skills in the discipline of sustainment.
- Advanced disciplinary knowledge and skills in sustainment, and the ability to apply these in a range of contexts.
Career outcomes
Potential roles:
- Acquisition Manager
- Asset Manager
- Contract Manager
- Defence Capability Manager
- Defence Logistics Specialist
- Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) Manager
- Lifecycle Manager
- Maintenance Manager
- Procurement Manager
- Program Manager
- Sustainment Manager
- Supply Chain Manager
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $41,000 (Full-fee paying place)
Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- The number of units studied.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university program.